COMMUTERS faced delays on train services between Darlington and Durham due to sheep on the tracks on Tuesday morning.

All trains were at a standstill for some time due to the incident, but services have now returned to normal.

Elsewhere, snow caused travel disruption in parts of the country.

The Met Office said snow had fallen around Manchester and the Peak District on Tuesday morning.

A Manchester Airport spokeswoman said a runway had been closed temporarily for snow to be cleared. She said the runway was closed for less than half an hour and reopened by 9am.

The closure caused some delays and some flights were diverted to other airports.

She said: "There are some knock-on delays, but they are minimal."

Drivers were warned to take care on the roads.

A post on the North West Motorway Policing Group Twitter account said: "Patrols have dealt with 47 accidents on the network this morning since 0630am #toomany.

"Please alter your driving to the weather conditions."

The Met Office had put warnings in place for heavy rain and high winds in Northern Ireland, Scotland and parts of north-west Wales and England, after predicting Storm Ewan would move across the country on Monday and Tuesday.

However, after the storm's impact was less than expected, the warnings were removed.

Yellow warnings for ice remained in place across much of the UK though, telling motorists to "be aware" of poor driving conditions on Tuesday morning.